At first glance, trainer Joe Pride thought the barrier draw had all but ended the chances of Tiger Tees in Saturday's Group One Galaxy.
But a closer look at the field has revived his hopes the five-year-old can upset the favourites in the 1100m sprint.
Tiger Tees has drawn the outside gate in the field of 14 which has already changed complexion following the early scratchings of Hay List and Adebisi.
Their withdrawals have paved the way for the first two emergencies - Victorians Unpretentious and Isabella Snowflake - to gain starts.
"I was hoping for better luck at the barrier draw," Pride said.
"It's not ideal, but in saying that when you look at the other runners in the race, where they've drawn, it's going to be a pretty hectic race and I know my bloke can come from off the pace, settle and still finish off.
"There's a lot of speed drawn wide but then there's others drawn inside who are going to have to kick up to hold a position or get buried in the ruck.
"It's a great race. The caller won't know where to look I suspect."
Tiger Tees showed he wasn't far off the country's best sprinters last spring when he finished third in the Salinger Stakes and fourth in the Patinack Farm Classic.
It was those efforts that prompted Pride to set his sights on the Galaxy.
A first-up fifth to Snitzerland in the Challenge Stakes convinced Pride Tiger Tees was on target.
"I knew he was going to be a bit underdone coming into that with only the one trial but I've specifically geared him up for this race knowing a handicap is his best chance to win a Group One," Pride said.
"He was aimed at this after his run in the Salinger."
Tiger Tees will enjoy a 4.5kg weight turnaround on Snitzerland who has been posted as the TAB fixed odds favourite for the Galaxy at $2.90.
Sea Siren ($4.40) is the only other runner under double figure odds with Tiger Tees on the fourth line of betting at $14.
At $31, Title is clearly rated as Pride's second-stringer by punters but the trainer doesn't think he is without a chance.
Title finished down the track first-up but Pride pointed out he did the same thing last autumn before going on to win the Listed Maurice McCarten Stakes second-up.
"He's a smokey," Pride said.
"He ran fourth in the Galaxy last year, in a much weaker renewal of it, but he's got a soft draw (five) and he's a chance if the rain comes."